The Flower Gardener's Bible: A Complete Guide to Colorful Blooms All Season Long: 400 Favorite Flowers, Time-Tested Techniques, Creative Garden Designs, and a Lifetime of Gardening Wisdom

by Lewis Hill, Nancy Hill, Joseph De Sciose (Photographer), Suzy Bales (Foreword by)

Overview

Create the flower garden of your dreams with this comprehensive guide that includes expert advice on everything from choosing an appropriate growing site to maximizing the lifespan of your plants. 

Charming illustrations and photographs accompany helpful tips on how to improve soil, fight off pests, and make all your flowers bloom with radiant color. Lewis and Nancy Hill will guide you through every aspect of flower gardening.  

With this complete reference book, you’ll find: 

• Advice on planning and preparing your site
• Inspirational designs for 23 gorgeous theme gardens
• An encyclopedia of more than 400 plants, including characteristics and caretaking tips 

 

Whether you’re a beginning gardener or a seasoned florist, The Flower Gardener’s Bible is a useful resource that will help you keep your garden healthy and beautiful for years to come.  

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580174626
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	02/15/2003
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	8.55(w) x 10.95(h) x 0.88(d)

About the Author

The late Lewis Hill, a beloved and best-selling Storey author, grew more than 20,000 trees on his farm in Greensboro, Vermont. He was also a member of the National Christmas Tree Association and the New Hampshire-Vermont Christmas Tree Association.

Nancy Hill is the co-author of many gardening books including The Flower Gardener’s Bible and The Lawn and Garden Owner’s Manual. She lives in Vermont. 

Award-winning photographer Joseph De Sciose is an award-winning photographer whose work has appeared in numerous books and magazines, including The New York Times Magazine, Country Living Gardener, House & Garden, and Country Home.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Suzy Bales
Introduction: The Pleasures of the Garden

Part 1: The Joy of Flower Gardening
Chapter 1: The Fascination of Flowers
Chapter 2: Designing Your Flower Garden
Chapter 3: Nurturing Your Garden Soil
Chapter 4: Planting Your Flower Garden
Chapter 5: Making More Plants
Chapter 6: Coping with Garden Pests
Chapter 7: Caring for Your Garden

Part 2: A Gallery of Gardens
Down the Garden Path
A Fantastic Foundation Garden
Wildflower Extravaganza: Meadow and Woodland
A Rock Garden to Love
Don't Forget to Smell the Flowers
Great Gardening on a Hillside
Gardening in a Shady Nook
Successful Seashore Plantings
The Charm of a Cottage Garden
The Magic Spell of Water Gardening
The Multifaceted Herb Garden
Outdoor Gardening in Containers
A Deckside Garden
A Bed for Butterflies
A Five-Star Garden for Hummingbirds
A Garden for Plant Collectors
Create a Child's Garden
An Island of Flowers
True Blue, the Zenith of Gardens
A Take-It-Easy Garden
A Shrub Garden
Gardening with Groundcovers
The Romance of a Rose Garden

Part 3: A Feast of Flowers
An alphabetical listing of plants with species-by-species information on each plant's characteristics and how to care for it.

Appendix A: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Appendix B: AHS Plant Heat-Zone Map
Reading List
Plant Societies
Glossary
Index
Photography, Location, and Designer Credits

Editorial Reviews

This is the complete guide to flower gardening as taught by a couple who learned through first-hand experience, trial and error and a little help from friends and advisers.” — The Washington Post

“[Lewis and Nancy Hill] … have again created a work that is fun to read, easy to understand, and so exhaustive it seems a veritable mini-encyclopedia.” — The American Gardener

“… loaded with advice on improving soil, fighting pests and disease, plans for theme gardens, a schedule of blossoming times, and an expansive description of more than 400 flowering plants. Lewis and Nancy Hill have compiled an excellent guide.” — Minneapolis Star Tribune

“Lewis and Nancy Hill’s practical information on designing your flower garden is sure to make all your plants happy.” — Garden Gate

“It’s an all-in-one manual that covers everything needed for achieving success with plants.” — Country Decorating Ideas

“Using their practical experiences as hands-on amateur gardeners, the Hills share techniques they find most useful, tips they feel most helpful, and treasured plants they think most reliable for successful flower gardens.” — Booklist

“...this concise overview presents a range of possibilities for novices.” — Library Journal

From the Publisher